Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that won’t necessarily generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
* Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R), his party’s gubernatorial candidate this year, was asked by msnbc’s Chuck Todd whether his running mate, E.W. Jackson, was his first choice to be the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. Cuccinelli refused to answer.
* Massachusetts’ U.S. Senate special election is tomorrow, and Republican Gabriel Gomez appeared on Fox News yesterday, making comments suggesting he expects to lose. “As a former general once said, ‘I shall return,’” Gomez said, adding, “I ran a clean race. I can look myself in the mirror and know that I ran an honorable race and I’m proud of that.”
* The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is planning to launch a television and radio ad campaign in support of comprehensive immigration reform, featuring pro-reform comments from Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) as well as Rep. Paul Ryan (R. Wis.). The spots urge viewers to “support conservative immigration reform.” (It’s worth noting that Rand Paul has already said he intends to vote against the bipartisan reform plan.)
* Organizing for Action’s fundraising is reportedly struggling so far in 2013, and the non-profit group supporting the president’s agenda has already cut its $50 million fundraising goal in half.
* It seems hard to believe, but South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) said last week that she “could absolutely see” not running for a second term in 2014. * Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R) has conceded that he may skip his own re-election bid and instead run for Congress. With Rep. Mike Michaud (D-Maine) running for governor, there will be an open-seat contest in the state next year. * And in Minnesota, where Sen. Al Franken (D) will seek re-election next year, a new Minnesota Poll shows the senator’s approval rating reaching an all-time high of 55%.
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